In this chapter, I wanted to write about Jimmy's past and when he meets Thomas. It might be a little repetitive but I wanted to capture both POVs.
Warnings: some violence, alcohol, drug use and angst.
I want to thank those that are reading and the comments definitely helped and encouraged me greatly. Thank you :D
Jimmy Kent had just arrived at Downton Abbey University thanks to a scholarship that he received. He had entered an educational contest in his hometown. He had to write an essay explaining his visions in life, education and acceptance. He won the contest and was awarded a full scholarship to his dream university: Downton Abbey.
His childhood was not an easy one. Having asthma attacks, he would end up frequently at the hospitals for breathing treatments. Now that he has grown, the asthma hasn't bothered him that much, as long as he has his inhaler, he would be okay. He rarely needed it, but you never know.
His father had walked out on him and his mother when he was two years old. Jimmy never knew of his father's whereabouts. He vanished from night to morning. He would ask his mother but she always said the same thing: "I wish I knew where daddy is, love." Jimmy had seen pictures of his father and kept them in a box in his closet when he was little. Nowadays, his father was rarely in his mind.
As for Jimmy's mother, her melancholy after his father's departure was too much for her to bear. She neglected little Jimmy and turned into an alcoholic. There were a few neighbors that kept an eye on Mrs. Kent and little Jimmy in case anything happened. Unfortunately for Jimmy, on a fateful afternoon, 8-year-old Jimmy was playing in his room when he heard a loud sound.
"Mummy?" He called out with a scared voice. No reply.
He opened the door of his bedroom and was greeted with an eerie silence. He carefully walked out. "Mummy?" He called again. A bottle breaking on the floor made Jimmy scream and jump. He turned to where he heard the sound to find the arm of his mother hiding behind the kitchen countertop. He came closer and found his mother collapsed on the floor with the broken bottle and some kind of medication. Jimmy ran to the neighbors.
"My mum is on the floor and won't wake up!"
About an hour later, the police and the ambulance were outside of his house. Jimmy sat with Mrs. Walter, one of the neighbors in her house. One of the police officers came to talk to Mrs. Walter and explained that there was no family left for Jimmy. He was alone in the world. Jimmy went with the police officer and explained to the boy that his mother had gone to be with the angels and would never come back.
Jimmy spent most of his life in a foster house with five other boys and their foster parents, Mr. and Mrs. Tischel. Jimmy's school years were overall normal, playing football, joining the drama club. He liked to keep himself busy. His grades were outstanding. He even became quite popular in school and girls were falling at his feet to get his attention. He found them ridiculous. He was never known to have a girlfriend, him stating that he had "no time for that nonsense, I'm far too busy."
After he graduated, with high honors, he was no longer to be supported by his foster family because he was 18, so he had to move out. Mrs. Tischel had secretly given Jimmy a few thousand pounds for him to survive until he would find a job. I want to go to the university and become a better person, not like me mum or dad. I'm going to take care of the people that I love.
For the next couple of years, Jimmy got a job as a server at a fancy restaurant. He got very decent tips by using his looks and charm the customers. You got to do what you got to do to survive. He rented a room at a house and lived comfortably. But by the time he was 21, his desire to go to the university were getting more profound.
His friend John, who also lived in the same house as Jimmy, suggested that they should go drinking to forget about Jimmy's sorrows for one night. A few hours later, they both came home drunk and laughing. They fell on the couch still laughing. John had bought some cookies from a guy at the bar that has a "secret ingredient." Two cookies later, both were laughing uncontrollably on the couch.
"Why am I laughing?!" Yelled Jimmy.
"I don't know mate!" Yelled John back. "My face doesn't hurt when I laugh!"
Jimmy snorted. "I know! Mine too!"
About twenty minutes later, they were both still on couch groaning and moaning. Paranoia hit John big time, he got up and started to search the house plants.
Jimmy frowned at the sight. "The fuck are you doing, John."
John looked back at Jimmy. "The police are going to catch us!" He said paranoid. "We've done something illegal!"
"Huh?"
"There was hemp in the cookies, Jimmy!"
Jimmy groaned and laid his head back on the couch. "Shit, John, You are so stupid, no wonder the 'secret ingredient', you big tart!"
John whimpered.
Jimmy got up the couch. "We need to sleep this off, come on, you twat. I'll help you to your room."
Jimmy and John leaned into each other as they made their way to John's room. John collapsed in his double bed and pulled Jimmy next to him. "Don't leave," he whispered. "Stay with me. I don't want to be alone."
Jimmy nodded. "Let me get changed, you too. I'll get us some water, my mouth is dry."
Later on, Jimmy and John were in shirts and boxers in John's bed. They faced each other. John hesitantly raised his hand and caressed Jimmy's arm. He opened his eyes and stared at John. "Thank you, Jimmy, for taking care of me. Now let me... take care of you." He moved in and kissed Jimmy's lips quickly.
"John," he said surprised.
"Jimmy," he panted. "I've wanted you for a while."
Jimmy looked down. "I've never done this before."
John caressed his cheek. "Lot of firsts tonight."
They both kissed with intense passion. Hands roaming all over. Shirts and boxers flying all over the room. More heavy kissing. Heavy breathing. Loud moans. Each grabbing the other's cock and stroking quickly. Them coming in each other's hands as they yelled out their orgasms in each other's mouths.
As they calmed down, John suddenly sat up and got dressed. "I think you better get dressed and leave," he said coldly.
Jimmy was shocked. "What? Why?"
"Get out of my room, Jimmy."
Jimmy got up and got dressed. "What the hell is this? Why are you kicking me out?"
John pushed Jimmy out of his room. "I said get out!" He slammed the door on Jimmy's face. What. The. Hell?
He went to his room hurt and confused. He cried himself to sleep. The next morning, Jimmy woke up with a headache and a hang over. Then he remembered what him and John did a few hours ago. He heard movement downstairs and decided to talk to John to sort things out.
Jimmy found John sitting in the kitchen table.
"We need to talk," said John.
"Figured as much," Jimmy said as he sat across from John. "John, I-"
"I want you out of my house," interrupted John. "As of today. Pack your bags and leave."
Jimmy blinked several times. "I thought... I thought you said you wanted me."
John raised his shoulders. "It was a mistake. It should had never happened."
Jimmy shook his head. Tears were coming down his eyes. "So... It didn't mean anything to you? Last night?"
John sighed impatiently. "Again. A mistake. You are a mistake. Pack your bags and get out of my house."
Jimmy felt his heart break in a thousand pieces. He ran upstairs, got his suitcases out and packed all his things as fast as he could. His clothes were the only things that he owned, everything else belonged to John. Jimmy walked downstairs and gave John his key. Without saying a word, he walked out into the unknown.
A year went by and Jimmy just celebrated his 22nd birthday and he was alone. He still had his job and rented another furnished room at another house but he kept to himself. After the "John nightmare"
Like he called it, he vowed to not trust people anymore as he had been betrayed for most of his life. He was bored of his job and was unhappy when one night, he was watching tv in his room and saw a contest for a full scholarship to Downton Abbey University and he couldn't help but work on that essay.
Eight months later, he had his dream come true. He just finished the first semester at Downton and couldn't be happier. Life had turned around for Jimmy Kent for the good... Finally.
He was a little hesitant about people when he started at Downton, but as time went by, he became good friends with Alfred. Mrs. Hughes and Mr. Carson were wonderful people who were always looking out for the students. Jimmy felt like he finally had a family and that he truly belonged somewhere.
He was happily walking down the hall to his bedroom when he tripped on his lace and fell flat on his face.
"Bloody hell," he groaned. Then he was being helped to his feet.
"You alright, mate?"
"Yes," he panted. "Thank you, Alfred." When he smiled at Alfred, he noticed that there was someone else. His eyes found a worried young man. He was very handsome. Black hair, combed back with gel or something, big light blue eyes, red luscious lips. Jimmy couldn't stop staring. This guy was the most beautiful thing he'd ever seen.
"You new?" He tried as casual as possible.
The other man's smile was contagious. "Uh, yes," he replied. Jimmy couldn't help but smile wider. "Jimmy Kent, at your service," he said as he stretched his hand to Thomas. "Huh, what do you know, my room is across from yours." Okay, I'm babbling.
"Thomas Barrow, a pleasure." A pleasure indeed.
Jimmy made comments about him falling down. He was flirting with this new Thomas guy. He didn't know where that came from.
"I got to go, I'll see you later, Thomas. Nice meeting you," he told Thomas. If I don't go, I'll make a complete fool out of myself!
Once inside the safety of his room, he leaned against the door and put his hands on his face. "Oh my God," he muttered in his hands. "I'm a complete idiot! What the hell was that?" Jimmy sighed loudly. His attraction towards Thomas was overwhelming. He thought he would never find anyone, not after John, not after the vow that he silently made: don't fall in love so easily. He shook his head and went to change his clothes.
Jimmy was walking by the gardens. The warm breeze hit his face pleasantly. He turned around to see Thomas sit alone on a bench. He had some papers that he was looking through. He doesn't have any friends. I can be his friend, I really want to get to know him. Jimmy saw how Thomas closed his eyes and smiled. He is so handsome.
Jimmy went to join Thomas on the bench and talked about their schedules. Jimmy was getting excited about the classes that him and Thomas would be taking together. There I am again, acting stupid, he's going to think you're stupid.
After their conversation, each went their separate ways. Jimmy went to the cafeteria where he found Daisy at the cash register. She smiled at him.
"Hey there, Jimmy. What are you up to?"
Jimmy shrugged his shoulders and placed his elbows on the counter top. "Nothing much, just... walking around."
Daisy shook her head. "Something on your mind?"
"Have you met the new student? Thomas?"
Daisy gasped. "I did! I bumped into him at the entrance, he dropped his suitcases and all. It was so embarrassing, but, oh my God, he is so charming!" She laughed. "Why do you mention him?"
Jimmy smiled. "His room is across from mine and we're going to have a couple of classes together."
Daisy wiggled her eyebrows. "You fancy him?"
Jimmy looked shocked. "What makes you say that?"
Daisy raised her eyebrows. "Because you want to know about him and you just met him. And because he's gorgeous."
Daisy was perhaps the only person Jimmy could really talk about anything. He told her about John. She never judged him for his preference stating that "you love who you love and that's it." From that moment, Jimmy adored Daisy as a great friend.
"Well, if you must know, I am interested."
Daisy clapped her hands. "I knew it! But be careful, we don't know if he likes guys and I don't want you to get your heart broken. Get to know him, be a friend."
Jimmy smiled. "You are wise, Daisy Mason."
Daisy giggled. "That I am, now let's go eat some biscuits!"